breadislife

hello! i’m back with hopefully more insight, as i’m still thinking. i’m personally leaning towards harvard because 1) I don’t plan on getting a masters degree again and I will regret not going and 2) I know I plan on teaching and doing equity and inclusion consulting after. if anything changes, I would hope to do DEI work for a company or even policy work, and I know I’ll be able to take policy classes with some of the best people in education. my only hesitation is having to transfer everything back to california and maybe feeling bitter that I could’ve easily completed it here... but I haven’t left the bay in years and this might be my only chance since I plan to come back lol. I agree with being nervous about equity being the center of praxis, but I think there is relief in knowing that TEP itself is about equity. the school probably not so much? but I don’t think that should be a detractor; I think it’s an opportunity to potentially learn from people with other viewpoints. even the most radical folks don’t always agree, and even radical programs may not be as intentional about equity praxis. re: boston being white. it’s WASP-y but there are lots of pocs there; we only see the gentrified parts or that’s the narrative they have. JP and roxbury and somerville have a lot of pocs! do you think you would like to teach in the bay? or where would you re-locate to after? I also think “urban education” is super subjective wherever you go because every city and neighborhood has a different story behind it that has made it the way it is. don’t know if that’s helpful but I hope you’re having good convos with everyone! they all seem great and willing to chat.

I’m going for my Masters in Ed with a teaching credential. Penn came out of the woodwork yesterday and gave me a fellowship that would cover more than tuition except I would have to teach in Philly for three years after. I’ve never been to Philly and I can’t go now, so if I don’t like it then I’m stuck. I also think the program sounds great on paper but haven’t really spoken to anybody about it. I currently live in the Bay and have for my whole life except for undergrad when I went to MA. I’m hesitant on Berkeley’s program because it sounds mad intense and I want to make sure I have time to explore my interests too (outside of equity work in the classroom, I hope to become an equity consultant). The equity focus is a big draw and I really want to learn how to teach about equity. I would get in-state tuition lol. I feel really drawn to Harvard’s program and ofc my family really wants me to go there. It’s smaller than Berkeley’s, but there’s the name and opportunity to take elective courses which I won’t get at any other school. Also an equity focus here. There’s also a designated career track for consulting which I want to take advantage of. I got a small scholarship but am still going to be out lots of money. I also think it’d be hard to transfer everything back to CA after if I decide to move back here. No idea what to do and maybe I’m thinking too far ahead. I don’t want to regret not going to my dream school (which is Harvard) but I don’t know if I can eat the cost and deal with all the paperwork and testing to transfer everything. I feel so conflicted and stressed.

hello! same thought processes here. i’m currently debating between harvard, brown, and berkeley. I live in the bay so my experience will be a bit different but it’s hard because berkeley (and oakland and sf) has super radical and liberal folks in a way that I think massachusetts does too but you have to find those pockets of people out in cambridge if that’s what you’re looking for. re: housing in the bay - honestly you’ll probably have an easier time finding something nowadays. there have been a lot of people subletting for like $800 on facebook but it’s kind of sketchy/gentrify-like so that’s up to your jurisdiction. there’s also a berkeley housing google sheet going around that was emailed to us from the dept lol. have you been able to take the HGSE virtual tour? maybe that’ll help in terms of never having been there. and while prestige is helpful, perhaps it’s good to think about future career paths too - which school will help you down the line when you may want a career switch, where do you want to grow and learn as a person, what will help you be the best educator you can be while offering you an experience to broaden your worldview.